G’day from Melbourne

BY MIKE BOWEN

I’VE SAID AND WRITTEN MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS WHY THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE, EVEN WHEN YOU ARE AT YOUR LOWEST EBB. PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 22ND LAST YEAR LIFE WAS FAIRLY NORMAL FOR ME, CONSIDERING THE BLACK CLOUD (COVID 19) THAT WAS AND IS STILL HANGING OVER OUR HEADS.

Thinking I was lucky up to that date that I had side stepped covid-19, there was a rude awakening just about to tap me on the back right hand side of my head to let me know how life can change in a matter of seconds. Fairly normal up to that time then changed for me to life threatening by having a blood clot (Stroke). In the haze of my mind, I drove my car (I was told later) onto the road and then proceeded crossing three busy major road junctions and finally coming to a holt approximately 8 KS away from my home. The police cars, and a helicopter arrived to check out the sight to see, if I might have hurt others while driving and for any damage that I might have caused. They agreed that I was not a car jacker or a hit and run driver. The result of that was, being whisked away by ambulance and spending three days in emergency and having multiple scans, x-rays, blood test and constant monitoring my nurses and doctors.

I SAID EARLIER, EVEN IN YOUR LOWEST EBB THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.

In my case I am the must optimistic person you would ever wish to meet, considering that was the fourth time I have escaped near death. Amazingly I have recovered all functions and escaped without a scratch. Do I believe in miracles you might well ask? You met I do.

Now to the rewards for of my optimism and belief that a Phoenix can rise from the ashes. Late last year I finally got to travel again, having a few trips in Victoria and getting back on an airplane again to meet with Qantas CEO Alan Joyce as you may have read, in the last issue of Scene. I took Alan’s advice on the do and don’t on international travel. On March 1st my son Jonathan who is also a contributor to (Irish Scene Magazine) and I, will be flying off to the land where God spends his summer holidays. (Ireland of course). What’s in store for us, is spending time with family, lifelong theatre and muso friends in Cork. Then traveling on to Co Kerry to spending more time with friends in Tralee. I fell in love with Kerry the first time I crossed over the Cork and Kerry border well before Mobil phones and the internet was invented. In the hundred plus times I have returned to Ireland since migrating here in 1974 I have always had Kerry on my return to visit list. Dingle, the peninsula and Dun Caoin Slay Head is always at the top of my must visit list. That’s where the Academy award winning movie ‘Ryan’s Daughter’ was filmed and it’s also where I wrote some of my books (The attached picture, is of the School House from the movie after weathering many years of the Atlantic storms on the cliff top. From Kerry its then on to the most popular city in Ireland, Galway. Again, to visit friends, family and to meet with some very special people (Unsung Hero’s in my book) who run a charity called Hand in Hand, that supports children with cancer and their families.

AS WAS SANG IN AS SONG MANY YEARS AGO ‘IT’S ANOTHER TANK OF GAS AND BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN’

heading to Cork to catch a flight to London, to watch Ireland play England at Twickenham in the six nations tournament. A visit to Abby Road recording studio to cross the famous Zebra crossing should fit in nicely also. Then its time to take a train trip to,? where else but Liverpool. No, not what you’re thinking a football game. Its time to visit the Cavern and strawberry fields and a few other musical icon destinations. Next stop is Manchester after a short train ride to see Manchester United play Atletico Madrid in a European cup game. Next day and another train ride from Manchester to London to catch a flight back to Cork, to be early for St Patrick’s Day in my hometown. Another catchup with friends to celebrate this prodigal son’s return after the longest time between return trips home, no thanks to Covid19. I haven’t had a St Patrick’s day celebration in Australia for the last seven years as Covid-19 prevented me attending two of those here in Australia, the previous five were spread between Tokyo two, Cork, Killarney and Dublin one each. No doubt, the St Pats celebrations in Cork will have a huge make up plus, for the previous lost two years. Assuming we’ll survive the St Patrick’s Day celebrations? it’s another train ride to Dublin the day after, to watch Ireland play Scotland in their last match of the six nations series at Aviva stadium. While in Dublin we will also be catchup with Jim Geraghty, who is the international market manager for Heineken. I, Jonathan and Emmett my other son in Tokyo who is also a contributor to Irish Scene met and spent some time with Jim, his wife Orla and his young son Jack, while Jim was setting up Heineken’s promotions for the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

He was kind enough to share some of Heineken’s hospitality with us, now its time to return the favour. What better way could we wish to end a trip like this. How about having the last gem in our travel crown before we leave God’s holiday paradise, attend backstage at Vickers Street in Dublin to be with my best mates George and Eddie Furey and having a bit of strum and a few quite beers. Did I say quite beers? I must have had a bit of confusion left over from that blood clot I had last year. Hope, there is always hope. Yes, I’m one of the lucky ones and for that I’m very grateful, for having survived that catastrophe experience on Feb 22nd last year. I’ll let you know how the trip went on my return.